From GM to EU

The Lib Dems want a moratorium on GM crops

A guide to key issues at the Liberal Democrat conference:

Genetically-modified foods

Charles Kennedy published a policy paper on genetically-modified foods shortly after his election as party leader.

The new leader wants to concentrate on environmental policies and maintain the distance between his party and the government over the issue of genetic modification.

The party's key recommendations on GM crops were:

• A reaffirmation of the party's commitment to a five-year moratorium on growing GM crops for commercial use.
  
• Strenghtening labelling requirements.
  
• Extending segregation zones around GM sites to avoid the risk of cross pollination.
  
• Forcing each proposed site to undergo an independent environmental impact assessment.
  
• Ensuring genuine public consultation at a local level.

At the conference delegates also backed a motion to ban genetically-modified crops outright if tests show they would harm organic farms.

In Scotland, the Liberal Democrats, in coalition with Labour, have presided with the establishment of up to 12 GM sites which would appear to be in conflict with the policy paper.

Mr Kennedy has said that the situation in Scotland is a different matter.

Education

Delegates voted to restore benefits to students

The Liberal Democrats Youth and Student want tuition fees to be paid for by public funds for all full and part time students from the age of 16.

Conference delegates embarrassed the party's leadership by voting to restore benefits for students against the wishes of higher education spokesman Phil Willis.

Disagreements over student finance also emerged on the issue of tuition fees in Scotland.

The Liberal Democrat manifesto stated "we will ... abolish tuition fees for all Scottish students at UK universities".

But Jim Wallace, Scotland's deputy first minister and leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, has come under criticism for trading this commitment for a coalition government with Labour.

A committee was established to examine the issue of tuition fees and it is expected to report at the end of the year.

But the question remains whether the Lib Dem MSPs will have a free vote when the committee reports and if the Labour-dominated cabinet rejected its findings, would the Lib Dem members be bound by collective responsibility.

Mr Wallace told the conference that the coalition with Labour had resulted in other gains in education such as 1,000 extra teachers for schools.

Europe

The party wants greater promotion of the EU's benefits

Mr Kennedy stressed his desire for his party to play a more prominent role in putting the case for closer involvement in Europe.

He also said the Lib Dems would work with members of other parties to persuade the public that the UK should join the European single currency.

The government and the prime minister were attacked for failing to campaign hard enough on Europe and the Tories were criticised for having a negative attitude towards the European Union.